Chapter 17
Jace and I have been in good terms actually. Pero hindi nga lang maiiwasan na he walked me to my classroom, gives me food during break time and Trisha noticed it. I can't blame him for doing this kasi choice niya yun eh and I let him. Pero sana malaman niya na wala talagang patutunguhan kung ano man itong ginagawa niya.
Ayoko na siyang paasahin pa lalo and he knew it very well enough pero he insists.I felt bad for letting him do all these things. Lahat naman ng mga binibigay niya sa akin ay tinatanggap ko naman. Pero I think, we really need to talk again.
I texted Jace to meet me in some of the benches here sa school.
"Wassup?" he said as he sits beside me. Dala-dala niya ang bag niyang nasa right shoulder niya.
I smiled and looked at him.
"Jace, I just think that we need to talk." I said and he leaned back. We were now facing at the open field in front of us.
I played with my fingers as I placed them on my thighs. I sighed.
"Please don't tell me to stop." He muttered under his breath enough for me to hear it.
"You need to. Alam mo naman ang sagot kung bakit, hindi ba? And I know you're better than that." I softly said.
"Hindi lang kasi tama na ipinagpatuloy mo ito. I really appreciated it when you walked me to my class, gives me food and all. Na mga bagay na I never experienced it before. Thank you for all those kind gestures, Jace."
"It not just some kind gestures, Eunice and I know you knew it." he snapped back.
"Alam ko. Hindi ba sinabi ko na sa'yo na ayoko kitang paasahin sa wala and I hope you understand that and we can still be friends." I said.
"Bakit? May iba ka bang nagugustuhan?" he immediately said as he turned to looked at me.
Nagulat ako sa tanong niya at umiling. "No, wala akong ibang nagugustuhan."
"Then why did you reject me?" his confused face was now vivid in front of me.
"I... I'm just not that ready for things like that." I said and looked at him apologetically.
"Then maghihintay ako kung kalian handa ka na. I'll wait Eunice." He said hopefully.
"Sinasabi mo lang yan ngayon, pero later on you'll realize that you just wasted your time on me. Ayokong masaktan ka Jace, please do understand and respect my decision." I looked at him trying to make him understand what I am trying to point out.
He sighed defeated. "Okay. I'll stop courting you. But please, let me do the things I want to do as your friend instead."
I smiled and nodded. At least, he will finally stop now.
"Thank you." I said and we headed in to our class now.
----
"There's really something different in you." Trisha said as his eyes went smaller.
I chuckled at her. "What? I don't know what you're saying."
"Oh? Hindi eh, meron talaga. I can see it." kumunot naman ang noo niyang tinignan ako.
"Wala nga. You're just hungry." I said and put my attention to my food.
"Parang ang saya mo. May nangyari ba?" tanong niya sabay subo ng kinakain.
"Wala nga sabi. Ang kulit naman."
Nilapit niya pa ang mukha niya sa akin and study my face.
She gasped as her eyes widened. "You grew a pimple. May crush ka noh?"
Na-ubo naman ako sa sinabi niya at uminon kaagad ng tubig.
"What crush? I don't have one!" sabi ko at saka nagpunas ng aking bibig.
"Talaga lang ah. Saan galing yang pimple na yan?" sabi niya sabay turo sa maliit na pimple na tumubo sa may bandang ilong ko.
"Stress yan Trish. Nilalagay mo naman lahat ng meaning eh." I said and continue eating.
"Admit it na lang kasi. Lahat naman ng mga bagay na nilalagyan ko ng meaning ay may meaning naman talaga." She said and laughs softly.
"But this pimple here means nothing but stress." I said and chuckled. Suddenly I felt my phone vibrated so I fished it out from my pocket and checked it.
Kiel:
Are you having your lunch right now?
My heart skipped a beat as I saw his message. I keep my phone under the table so that Trisha won't see it.
I hurriedly type my message.
Me:
Yes. Why are you texting btw?
Seconds after, nagvibrate na naman ang phone ko.
Kiel:
Because I want to. Bawal?
Ngumuso ako sa text niya at nagtipa ulit.
Me:
Stop texting me. My friend is here.
He replied.
Kiel:
Why? Don't you wanna let your friend know that you have a text mate?
Text mate? Really, huh. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang isasagot ko sa kaniya. Nagtext pa siya ulit.
Kiel:
Sinong kaibigan ang kasama mo?
I bit my lower lips as I send him my reply.
Me:
Trisha, of course. Who else?
Nagreply naman siya agad. Ang bilis naman niyang magreply, wala ba siyang ginagawa ngayon?
Kiel:
Good. Eat your food now, happy eating.
I heard Trisha gasped beside me and I immediately turned off my phone and place it inside my bag.
"See? May katext mate kana! OMG, you have boyfriend na?" lumaki naman ang mga mata niya dahil sa sariling tanong.
Nabigla ako kaya tumawa ako ng bahagya.
"I don't have. Ano bang pinagsasasabi mo diyan." I said and finished my food.
"Eh sino ang katext mo, bago lang?" tanong niya at nakataas pa ang kilay niya.
"Ha? Ano... si Kuya Ethan!" I blurted out. Geez, sorry brother.
Napakurap naman siya at saka lumunok.
"Talaga? Nagte-text pala yun? Hindi halata."
Tumawa naman ako ng bahagya dahil sa sinabi niya.
"He does. Try mo minsan." Sabi ko na lang at inirapan niya lang ako.
